Semper fraud?: Anderson Joes clubhouse manager's service to country in question

Jame West wears a Purple Heart and says he's Marine. The Pentagon says it has no record of his service.

Anderson Joes clubhouse manager Jame West watches the team play Thursday against the Macon Music in Anderson. Mr. West, a suspected Marine impostor, wears ribbons depicting a Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart and campaigns including Desert Storm and Afghanistan. A Pentagon official said Mr. West has no record of Marine service.

A recently discharged Marine with Iraq combat experience had heard about "Gunny," believed to be a former Marine who worked for the Anderson Joes.

But Sgt. William Mahoney of Anderson said something didn't seem right about the guy, whom players often referred to by that nickname but who is known as Jame West, the clubhouse manager for the team. "Gunny" is short for gunnery sergeant.

Sgt. Mahoney searched the military databases to try to locate Mr. West, who has been pictured on a MySpace account wearing a Marine uniform. He also has been seen around Anderson in a Marine uniform with ribbons and other awards on his chest, according to Sgt. Mahoney.

What Sgt. Mahoney found, he said, was no record of Jame West.

Marine officials also said they have no record of Mr. West.

Marine Maj. Manuel Delarosa, a public affairs spokesman at the Pentagon, said a search of service records shows that Mr. West has no history of Marine service, but similar names match with service in the Navy and Army.

A Navy official, however, said Mr. West has no record of Navy service.

Mr. West does, however, have records with the Anderson Police Department.

A deputy at the Anderson County Jail said Mr. West, also known as James Franklin West of 129 Soren Lane, was arrested April 24 and charged with identity fraud.

According to the warrant for his arrest, Mr. West is accused of using another person's identity to make applications for two credit cards, a loan for a motorcycle and another loan for a $40,000 truck. The applications were stopped. A trial date has not been set.

Mr. West declined to comment about his military service after a recent Joes game against the South Georgia Peanuts.

"You can run allegations all you want," he said.

Mr. West, reportedly 38 years old, wears No. 9 for the Joes.

The impostor allegations surfaced after a call from the wife of Mr. West's landlord, a former Marine recruiter who is serving in Iraq and only agreed to rent the home to a Marine, Sgt. Mahoney said.

A dispute over rent that was past due was taken to court. On June 22, an Anderson summary court judge ruled against Mr. West.

Sgt. Mahoney, who attended the hearing, said Kelli West told the judge that her husband was unable to attend. He had been "deployed," according to Sgt. Mahoney's recollection of Mrs. West's statement. At the time, Mr. West and the Joes were on a six-game road trip.

Sgt. Mahoney, who served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, said when he threw out the ceremonial pitch on Marines Day at a recent Joes game, he was uncomfortable. He threw the pitch to Mr. West.

"The Joes players were upset (at me). ‘Why do we need this guy? We got Gunny,' " Sgt. Mahoney said in recalling players' comments.

When at the ballpark, Mr. West wears a Joes uniform, but in a job interview, "That was part of his discussion with us, that he was a former Marine," said Garrett Ball, general manager of the Joes. "He may have presented himself to the players as a former Marine. Obviously, that's where they came up with that (the nickname ‘Gunny')."

Mr. West, Sgt. Mahoney said, was known to wear Marine blues, service ribbons and awards, including a Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart. Included in the rows of service ribbons are citations for service in the Middle East.

Maj. Delarosa said there are cases where two ribbons would have been issued, but Mr. West only wears one of them. These are inconsistencies that someone not in the service would not understand, Maj. Delarosa said.

The masquerade is tough to take, Sgt. Mahoney said.

"This town has plenty of people overseas," he said. "These guys are serving. This guy over here is trying to steal their glory. Not that anybody is looking for that."

The issue could involve mistaken identity, said another Jame West, describing himself as 53 years old, a Homeland Park resident and a former Navy ROTC instructor at T.L. Hanna High School.

After being away for 17 years, he said he just moved back to Anderson and does not want to be confused with the other Mr. West.

"I have got all due respect for a man that defended this country for our freedom," he said. "Get a faker out of here. No. I don't go for that."

In another twist, an incident report filed Monday with the Anderson City Police accuses a James Franklin West of stealing the identity of Marine Corps recruiter Edward Dicks. Mr. Dicks stated he received a bill of $600 from Piedmont Natural Gas and that Mr. West placed the gas account in Mr. Dicks' name in August 2006 for a residence at 129 Soren Lane, Anderson.

Mr. West has not been charged in connection with the report.

Mr. Ball said he was not aware of the accusations facing Mr. West. He said the issue of his employment with the team depends on his work competence or an integrity issue.

"If I find out there is something affecting his … job or with his integrity, … we would have a discussion with him," Mr. Ball said.

He said he was not aware of the identity theft charge filed against Mr. West.

Anytime an employee is arrested, "I think that would definitely have some effect on their employment," Mr. Ball said.